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Bathrooms and wi-fi won't be the only things some renters will be sharing this Valentine’s day.
According to realestate.com.au, over 14 per cent of renters have had a romantic relationship with a housemate and, what’s more, the majority are staying together.
The realestate.com.au’s Consumer Insights Report on Renters and Sharers survey of 2,321 renters and sharers revealed this romantic data.
In fact, it’s a case of real love and not forgettable flings, with eight per cent of renters saying they’re still together and four per cent ending up in matrimony.
Arthur Charlaftis, realestate.com.au’s general manager of sales and operations, says it’s no wonder people are finding their partners through the serendipity of house sharing.
“Nearly a third (29 per cent) of private dwellings in Australia are rental properties. That’s a lot of houses being shared and a lot of people meeting through sharing a house,” he said.
“In a lot of ways, renting is the ultimate property experience. Renters often cite that one of the things they love is the ability to live in a better house in a better suburb than they would normally be able to afford to buy."
Chevonne and Ben of Penrith are two examples of housemate love, according to realestate.com.au. After being acquaintances for years, it wasn’t until Chevonne and Ben moved in together that they realised their compatibility and started dating.
"We definitely wouldn't have gotten together because our circles didn't cross previously," Chevonne told Residential Property Manager.
"Living with him was what made us start hanging out, we've been together eight months now and I've never been happier."
Similarly, Victorian couple Catherine and Nick met after Nick moved into Catherine’s shared house. Catherine credits coming home and finding Nick in the kitchen making shepherd’s pie as the moment she began to fall for her English gent. Nick proposed on a beach in Bali and the couple are due to be married in January 2014.
“Clearly the prospect of finding love also fuels Australians’ desire to keep sharing a house with other people,” Mr Charlaftis continued.
February is one of the peak times for demand for rental properties on realestate.com.au, he added.
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